When you hear India, diversity comes into your mind. When you hear Indian cuisine, your mouth may start watering by imagining the flavours, spices and yet again, diversity in the cuisine. But be it North, South, East, West or centre, one unifying key in Indian cuisine is the Indian Thali. You may not find the same food in the North as you do in the South, but you may find a traditionally structured system of serving food all over India- the Thali system.
General structure of an Indian Thali:
Carb sources or staples- chappatis, rotis, puris, bhakris, rice or rice preparations
Dals and vegetable curries, sabzis
Meat or egg curries
Something fried- papad, bhajiyas, fish etc
Raita(a curd preparation) or aachar (pickle)
Desserts
A drink
Some chillies and sometimes cut cucumber, onions and tomatoes
The balance of an Indian Thali:
Chappatis, rice and rice preparations or sometimes jowar, bajra or other cereals are the major carbohydrate providing sources along with a few proteins. Dals or lentils or meat/egg curries are a good source of protein. Raita/curd or pickle or lassi can act as a great probiotic, whereas some lentils and sabzis act as prebiotics. Fried papad or fryums add to the fat content of the meal. Some vegetable curries are known to contain phytochemicals, polyphenols because of the plant based ingredients and spices they contain and these components have been found to be helpful for the gut bacteria.
Ayurvedic Perspective of the Indian Thali:
According to Ayurveda, balanced diet is not just a diet that has all the macro nutrients and micro nutrients. A balanced diet should contain a meal that has all the 6 tastes- sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent. Each taste either elevates or alleviates the three doshas- vata, pitta and kapha and a proper balance of the body is mainly determined by these 3 doshas. From sour pickles to sweet desserts an Indian Thali covers all the tastes and hence helps in maintaining a balance in our bodies.
Isn’t it incredible, how our meals are so structured and scientific while also being so flavourful!
Feel free to share what food items you enjoy from your culture and also how fascinating is the science behind preparing and consuming it.
MBH/AB